Refrigerator with home bar and hot air transferring unit for the same

ABSTRACT

A refrigerator with a home bar. The refrigerator reuses waste heat emitted from the electrical units (e.g., compressor and condenser) to heat the home bar frame, thereby preventing or reducing dew formation thereon. An air flow path is coupled to the machine room to supply air that is heated by the waste heat from the machine room to the home bar frame.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is based on and claims priority from Korean Patent Application No. 10-2016-0042819, filed on Apr. 7, 2016, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference for all purposes.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to refrigerators and hot air transferring units provided for the same, and more particularly, to home bar systems on refrigerators.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Refrigerators are electrical appliances capable of maintaining a storage chamber below room temperature. Food or other objects can be stored in a refrigerator in a cold or frozen state. The space inside the refrigerator is maintained at a low temperature by cool air circulation. Cool air is continuously generated through a refrigeration cycle including compression, condensation, expansion and evaporation. Cool air is distributed to the inner space of the refrigerator by convection.

An upright type refrigerator has a freezer and a refrigerating chamber, one disposed above the other. A parallel type refrigerator typically has a relatively large capacity, and the freezer and refrigerating chamber are disposed side by side.

Some refrigerators include a built-in home bar which enables a user to take out a stored object without having to open the refrigerator door. The door of the home bar may be rotatably installed in the refrigerator door. A storage space, e.g., a home bar compartment or the like, is formed on a rear surface of the refrigerator door in a region behind the home bar door. To take out an object stored in the home bar case, a user may simply open the home bar door without opening the refrigerator door. By keeping the refrigerator door closed, the amount of room temperature air entering the refrigerator can be reduced and so overall power consumption to cool the contents in the refrigerator can be reduced.

However, as the home bar frame has a lower temperature than the air outside the refrigerator (or room temperature air), moisture in the room temperature air tends to condense on the home bar frame and forms dew.

In the related art, a heater is mounted around the home bar frame to prevent dew accumulation around the home bar frame. However, heat generated by the heater can be inevitably transferred to the interior of the home bar and raise the temperature inside the refrigerator. As a result, additional electric power is consumed to maintain a cold temperature in the refrigerator, which unfortunately counteracts the purpose of using the home bar.

PRIOR ART DOCUMENTS Patent Documents

Patent Document: Korean Patent Application Publication No. 10-2009-75070 (published on Jul. 8, 2009)

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a mechanism of removing dew around a home bar frame in a refrigerator with improved power efficiency.

According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, a refrigerator includes a home bar and a hot air transferring unit. The refrigerator reuses waste heat emitted from the electrical units (e.g., compressor and condenser) to heat the home bar frame and thereby prevent or reduce moisture condensation thereon. An air flow path is coupled to the machine room to supply air that is heated by the waste heat from the machine room to the home bar frame.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an exemplary refrigerator equipped with a home bar according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional view of the exemplary refrigerator equipped with the home bar according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 3 is a horizontal sectional view of the exemplary refrigerator equipped with the home bar according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 4 is a rear sectional view of the exemplary refrigerator equipped with a home bar according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged sectional view of a region designated by “A” in FIG. 2.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged sectional view of a region designated by “B” in FIG. 3.

FIG. 7 illustrates the position of the bellows tube when the main door is open.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following detailed description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof. The illustrative embodiments described in the detailed description, drawings, and claims are not meant to be limiting. Other embodiments may be utilized, and other changes may be made, without departing from the spirit or scope of the subject matter presented here.

One or more exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure will be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which one or more exemplary embodiments of the disclosure can be readily determined by those skilled in the art. As those skilled in the art will realize, the described exemplary embodiments may be modified in various different ways, all without departing from the spirit or scope of the present disclosure, which is not limited to the exemplary embodiments described herein.

It is noted that the drawings are schematic and are not necessarily dimensionally illustrated. Relative sizes and proportions of parts in the drawings may be exaggerated or reduced in their sizes, and a predetermined size is just exemplary and not limiting. The same reference numerals designate the same structures, elements, or parts illustrated in two or more drawings in order to exhibit similar characteristics.

The exemplary drawings of the present disclosure illustrate ideal exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure in more detail. As a result, various modifications of the drawings are expected. Accordingly, the exemplary embodiments are not limited to a specific form of the illustrated region, and for example, include a modification of a form by manufacturing.

The configuration and operation according to one embodiment of the present disclosure will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Hereinafter, one embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an exemplary refrigerator equipped with a home bar according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional view of the exemplary refrigerator equipped with a home bar according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 3 is a horizontal sectional view of the exemplary refrigerator equipped with the home bar according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 4 is a rear sectional view of the exemplary refrigerator equipped with a home bar according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

Referring to FIGS. 1 to 4, the exemplary refrigerator 10 may include a main body 100, main doors 200, a home bar opening 300, a home bar frame 310, a home bar door 320, a machine room 400 and a hot air transferring unit 500.

The inclusion of the aforementioned components in one embodiment of the present disclosure does not mean that one embodiment of the present disclosure consists of only the aforementioned components but means that one embodiment of the present disclosure basically comprises these components. One embodiment of the present disclosure may further comprise other components that are well known in the art. The well-known components are not described herein for brevity.

The main body 100 constitutes an overall housing of the refrigerator 10. At least one storage room 110 is formed within the main body 100. For instance, the storage room 110 is divided into a freezer at one side of the main body 100 and a refrigerating chamber at the other side.

The main doors 200 may be rotatably coupled to the main body 100 and cover the storage room. There may be one or more main doors 200 on the refrigerator. For instance, the main doors respectively cover the refrigerating chamber, the freezer and another storage room 110.

The home bar opening 300 extends through a front surface of a main door and allows a user to access the storage room 110 or another independent space 301 without opening the main door. The opening 300 may be located on one of the main doors 200, e.g., a refrigerating chamber main door 200. Thus, an object can be place in, or taken out from, the refrigerator through the opening 300. Using the home bar can significantly reduce room temperature by reducing an amount of air flowing from the outside of the refrigerator to the inside due to the much smaller size of the home bar opening 300 than the size of the outer surface of each of the main doors 200.

The home bar frame 310 may be disposed around the opening 300. The home bar door 320 may be hingedly coupled to the home bar frame 310.

The machine room 400 may be located close to a side of the main body 100. Electrical drive units 410 are installed inside the machine room 400. The electrical drive units 410 operate to generate cool air to be supplied to the storage room to maintain a low temperature therein. As illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 4, the machine room 400 is located in a lower rear portion of the main body 100 and extends along the transverse direction of the main body 100. The machine room 400 provides an accommodation space for the drive units 410.

The machine room 400 has a higher temperature than the storage rooms of the refrigerator because of waste heat generated and emitted from the drive units 410 located therein. More specifically, the drive units 410 may include a compressor 411, a condenser 412 and the like and operate to generate cool air in refrigeration cycles. The compressor 411 and the condenser 412 may produce and emit a large amount of heat during the course of their operation. In the related art, such heat is unused and dissipated to the outside.

According to embodiments of the present disclosure, the waste heat from the machine room can be used to reduce or remove moisture condensation (or dew) around the home bar.

More specifically, a hot air transferring unit 500 is used to transfer the waste heat generated in the machine room 400 to the home bar frame 310. The hot air transferring unit 500 may include an air flow path 510. As illustrated in FIG. 2, the air flow path 510 may obliquely extend from a lower rear side of the main body 100 to an upper front side of the main body 100 where the home bar frame 310 is located. Air in the machine room 400 is heated by the waste heat emitted from the drive units 410 and therefore tends to flow upward along the air flow path. Thus, the waste heat generated in the machine room 400 may be transferred to the home bar frame 310 through the air flow along the air flow path 510.

In this example, the machine room 400 extends along the transverse direction of the main body 100. An intake fan 420 can be installed at the end of the air flow path 510 that is coupled to the machine room 400. The fan can increase the air flow in the air flow path and thereby increase the heat transfer rate.

More specifically, as illustrated in FIG. 2, one end of the air flow path 510 may be coupled to one side of an upper portion of the machine room 400. The other end of the air flow path 510 may be coupled to an upper surface of the home bar frame 310. As illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 5, a plurality of injection holes 520 are formed at one end of the air flow path 510 and proximate to the home bar frame 310. Through the injection holes 520, hot air exiting from the air flow path is distributed to the home bar frame and thereby heats up or warm the home bar frame. Further, the injection holes 520 are spaced apart from each other and may be formed on the upper surface 311 of the home bar frame 310.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged sectional view of a region designated by “A” in FIG. 2. FIG. 6 is an enlarged sectional view of a region designated by “B” in FIG. 3 wherein the main door is in a closed position. FIG. 7 illustrates that the main door is in an open position.

Referring to FIG. 5, a home bar gasket 312 may be installed in the home bar frame 310, facing an inner surface of the home bar door 320. As illustrated in FIG. 1, the home bar gasket 312 may surround the home bar frame 310, e.g., in conformance with the shape of the home bar frame 310. The home bar gasket 312 can seal the gap between the home bar frame 310 and the home bar door 320 to prevent external air from flowing into the refrigerator through the home bar opening 300. This helps maintain the low temperature inside the refrigerator.

As illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7, the hot air transferring unit 500 may include a bellows tube 530 which is extendable. The bellows tube 530 is coupled to the air flow path and between the main body 100 and the main door 200.

The main door 200 covers the storage room 110. Thus, as illustrated in FIG. 6, when the main door 200 is closed, there is a certain gap (hereinafter referred to as “door gap”) between the main door 200 and the main body 100. As illustrated in FIG. 7, when the main door 200 is open, the door gap is enlarged.

Thus, when the door is open, the air flow path 510 is disconnected. In the present embodiment, the bellows tube 530, having an extendable length, is installed in the door gap. When the main door 200 is closed as illustrated in FIG. 6, the bellows tube 530 is compressed and pressed against the main door 200 so that the air flow path 510 becomes continuous. Thus, air carrying the waste heat can be transferred through the air flow path 510 without leaking to the outside and eventually supplied to the home bar frame 310.

When the main door 200 is open as illustrated in FIG. 7, the bellows tube 530 is separated from the main body 100, and the air flow path 510 is decoupled from the machine room. As a result, the supply of waste heat is interrupted.

Although exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure are described above with reference to the accompanying drawings, those skilled in the art will understand that the present disclosure may be implemented in various ways without changing the necessary features or the spirit of the present disclosure.

Therefore, it should be understood that the exemplary embodiments described above are not limiting, but only an example in all respects. The scope of the present disclosure is expressed by claims below, not the detailed description, and it should be construed that all changes and modifications achieved from the meanings and scope of claims and equivalent concepts are included in the scope of the present disclosure.

From the foregoing, it will be appreciated that various embodiments of the present disclosure have been described herein for purposes of illustration, and that various modifications may be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the present disclosure. The exemplary embodiments disclosed in the specification of the present disclosure do not limit the present disclosure. The scope of the present disclosure will be interpreted by the claims below, and it will be construed that all techniques within the scope equivalent thereto belong to the scope of the present disclosure. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A refrigerator with a home bar, the refrigerator comprising: a main body comprising a storage room; a main door configured to cover the storage room; an electrical unit configured to generate cool air to be supplied to the storage room, wherein the electrical unit produces waste heat during operation; a machine room housing the electrical unit; a home bar opening providing access to the storage room when the main door is closed; a home bar frame surrounding the home bar opening; and an air transferring unit configured to transfer the waste heat from the machine room to the home bar frame.
 2. The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein the waste heat is transferred to the home bar frame to reduce moisture condensation thereon.
 3. The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein the storage room comprises a compartment accessible through the home bar opening.
 4. The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein the electrical unit comprises one of a compressor, a condenser, an expansion device and an evaporator, and wherein the machine room houses a plurality of electrical units.
 5. The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein the home bar opening is formed on the main door.
 6. The refrigerator of claim 5 further comprising a home bar door coupled to the home bar frame and configured to cover the home bar opening.
 7. The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein the machine room is located at a lower rear side of the main body and extends in a traverse direction of the main body.
 8. The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein the air transferring unit comprises an air flow path configured to supply an air flow from the machine room to the home bar frame.
 9. The refrigerator of claim 8, wherein the air flow path comprises a pipe obliquely extending from a lower rear portion of the main body toward the home bar frame, wherein the home bar frame is disposed proximate to an upper front portion of the main body.
 10. The refrigerator of claim 8, wherein one end of the air flow path is coupled to one side of an upper portion of the machine room and the other end of the air flow path is coupled to an upper surface of the home bar frame.
 11. The refrigerator of claim 10, wherein the air flow path comprises a plurality of injection holes disposed on the upper surface of the home bar frame.
 12. The refrigerator of claim 6 further comprising a home bar gasket operable to seal a gap between home bar door and the home bar opening, wherein the home bar gasket is disposed on the home bar frame and faces an inner surface of the home bar door.
 13. The refrigerator of claim 8, wherein the air transferring unit comprises an extendable bellows tube coupled between the main body and the main door.
 14. The refrigerator of claim 13, wherein, when the main door is in a closed position, the extendable bellows tube is coupled to the air flow path, and wherein, when the main door is in an open position, the extendable bellows tube is decoupled from the air flow path.
 15. The refrigerator of claim 8, wherein the air transferring unit further comprises an intake fan disposed at one end of the air flow path, wherein the intake fan is configured to drive air flowing from the machine room.
 16. A hot air transferring unit for a refrigerator, the hot air transferring unit comprising: an air flow path coupled between a machine room of the refrigerator and a home bar frame; a plurality of injection holes formed at one end of the air flow path and proximate to the home bar frame; and an extendable tube coupled between a main body of the refrigerator and a main door of the refrigerator, wherein, when the main door is in a closed position, the extendable tube is coupled to the air flow path, and wherein, when the main door is in an open position, the extendable tube is decoupled from the air flow path.
 17. The hot air transferring unit of claim 16, wherein the air flow path obliquely extends from a lower rear portion of the main body toward the home bar frame, and wherein one end of the air flow path is coupled to one side of an upper portion of the machine room, and the other end of the air flow path is proximate to an upper surface of the home bar frame.
 18. The hot air transferring unit of claim 16, wherein a home bar gasket is disposed on the home bar frame and faces an inner surface of a home bar door.
 19. A refrigerator with a home bar, the refrigerator comprising: a main body comprising a storage room; a main door coupled to the main body and configured to cover the storage room, wherein the main door comprises a home bar opening providing user access to the storage room while the main door remains closed; a home bar frame surrounding the home bar opening; a home bar door coupled to the home bar frame and configured to cover the home bar opening; a machine room housing electrical units that are configured to generate cool air to be supplied to the storage room, wherein the electrical units emit waste heat during operation; and a hot air transferring unit configured to transfer waste heat to the home bar frame, wherein the hot air transferring unit comprises: an air flow path configured to transport an air flow from the machine room to the home bar frame; and an injection hole formed at one end of the air flow path and proximate to the home bar frame for injecting air toward the home bar frame.
 20. The refrigerator of claim 19, wherein the hot air transferring unit further comprises an extendable bellows tube disposed in the air flow path, wherein the extendable bellows tube is coupled between the main body and the main door when the main door is closed, and wherein the extendable bellows tube is configured to be decoupled from the main door when the main door is open. 